Blood on their hands: Nigeria must investigate military-condoned deaths

Help pressure Nigeria to investigate 8,000 deaths

Dear Tracy, We are making crucial headway in the fight for human rights in Nigeria. This week, Amnesty investigators released evidence that more than 8,000 people have died at the hands of the Nigerian government since 2011. They were starved, suffocated, tortured or executed in operations condoned by senior military officials. The Guardian, U.S. News and World Report, The New York Times and many other publications are featuring our report, which urges Nigeria's newly inaugurated president to investigate the abuses and stop any from occurring in the future. Donate to support Amnesty's efforts to bring human rights atrocities like this to light. Following interviews with more than 400 survivors, eyewitnesses and senior members of Nigeria's security forces, our investigation reveals that more than 7,000 young men and boys — some as young as nine years old — died in military detention, and more than 1,200 people including women and children were unlawfully killed by the Nigerian military. One former detainee told Amnesty International: "All I know was that once you get detained by the soldiers, your life is finished." Last Friday, Nigeria inaugurated its new president, General Muhammadu Buhari, who has promised change. The international community must ensure President Buhari investigates the abuses and acts decisively to end the pervasive culture of impunity within Nigeria's armed forces. Nigeria's military has blood on its hands. Together, we can help ensure that justice is served and that Nigeria ends its culture of impunity Sincerely, Adotei Akwei Managing Director of Government Relations Amnesty International USA